**Special Tour** Arch Street Meeting House

Preservation is a complicated word for Quakers – their worship spaces mean very little to them, what’s more important is the spirit. That’s what makes the Arch Street Meeting House so unique. It is arguably the most important Quaker historic site in the United States, yet its very construction in 1803 disrupted graves dating back to 1701 and William Penn’s original gift of the property to the Quakers. Its history means that it’s visited by thousands of tourists and students every year while still being an active place of worship for Philadelphia Quakers and plays hosts to weddings, funerals and a host of social justice gatherings monthly.

Reinterpreting the site has been a challenge for the Arch Street Meeting House Preservation Trust, founded in 2011 to assume operations after meetinghouses designation as a National Historic Landmark. Juggling Quaker norms and the publics interest can be a balancing act but the new exhibits on the grounds of this historic property found that important balance. Join Executive Director Sean Connolly on a tour of these new exhibits, the burial ground and this historic place of Quaker worship  as he discusses navigating interpretation and preservation efforts at the Westminster Abbey of the Quaker faith.

Meet at the gate of the Arch Street Meeting House at 320 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106.

Sean Connolly is Executive Director of the Arch Street Meeting House Preservation Trust (ASMHPT) where he oversees operations, fundraising and strategy. His previous work experience includes overseeing the Education Department at Pennsbury Manor, Assistant Director of Historic Philadelphia Inc.’s Once Upon A Nation program and the Executive Director of the Manayunk Theatre Company. He has also taught Public History at Drexel University. Sean has a MA in Theatre and Non-Profit Management from Villanova University and a BA in History from York College of Pennsylvania. He lives in the East Falls section of Philadelphia with his partner Meredith and dog Aurora. 

In registering to attend this walking tour, you agreed to the following (Please note the updated changes as of April 20, 2022):

• During tours, facemasks will be optional for all individuals including the tour guide
• Facemasks may be required to enter buildings on certain tours. Please bring one with you in case it is needed 
• Preservation Alliance walking tours utilize an audio system that transmits from a headset worn by the guide to earpieces worn by tour attendees. The equipment is thoroughly sanitized before and after each use. Tour attendees can also plug in their personal headsets or earbuds that use a standard headphone jack (Not compatible with Bluetooth or Apple earphones).

Space is limited. Advance registration required.

Email us at tours@preservationalliance.com for any questions or join the waitlist for a sold out tour!